TROY -- Emily Rossier is not looking to make things easy for Councilman Gary Galuski when he runs for his fourth and final term this year.

Rossier announced her candidacy for a spot on the Council Tuesday, hoping to not only change the culture of politics in the city but also tap into the grassroots movement.

"There is untapped potential and people looking for opportunity," Rossier said at the press conference, citing organizations such as the Troy Bike Rescue, Collard City Growers and the Sanctuary for Independent Media as forces of change in the city. "We need leadership that can nourish and cultivate that potential."

Rossier said she will be focusing on economic development and sustainability within the community. She said she plans to run on the Democratic Party ticket, which, if she gets enough signatures, would put her in a primary with Galuski, D-District 6.

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There was some support from some members of the Working Families Party shown during the press event, but WFP Rensselaer County Chairman Jim Welch said the party hasn't completed its candidate selection process. He did admit, though, she has a lot of support within the party, including himself.

Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman Tom Wade said he has never met Rossier but gave his full support of Galuski.

"Gary Galuski has been the most responsive elected official for the constituents in his district," Wade said. "Evidence of the progress obtained in his district is visible. Perhaps, most importantly, Gary is a man with integrity who has never been afraid to face difficult decisions as an elected representative."

When asked for specific accomplishments Galuski has achieved as a council member Wade said: "I don't follow every councilman and what they do in their districts."

Galuski declined to comment on Rossier's candidacy.

Rossier said the decision to run in District 6 came in February but she said she had always wanted to be involved in government and felt she was in a great position to help out the city. There are changes happening at the community level, Rossier said, but she also thinks there are changes happening in the Council.

"[The city council] is starting to make really cool changes that I want to be a part of," Rossier said, praising the recent trend of the creation of citizen workgroups for issues such as composting and alternative transportation. "We can have them on all different aspects of life."

Rossier said she is justlooking to help and doesn't really concern herself with party politics, even saying she doesn't understand the two-party system the country seems to be trapped in.